Chasing the Yield

Investing for income through dividends and distributions

  • Caterpillar raises dividend by 8.1%

    Caterpillar raises dividend by 8.1%

    This is Caterpillar’s 28th straight year for increasing their dividend. Caterpillar has restructured its business in recent years and reduced their manufacturing footprint by almost 30%. Streamlining their organization reduces costs and gives them a healthier cash flow. Caterpillar seems to be in a strong position to ride out any potential recession and maintain its…

  • Amid current challenges Target hikes dividend 20%

    Amid current challenges Target hikes dividend 20%

    This is why I hold Target in my portfolio. They remain a solid company despite short term difficulties all retailers face. This marks 51 years of consecutive dividend growth. Target on Thursday said its board raised the quarterly dividend to $1.08 from 90 cents previously. The annual payout of $4.32 represents a yield of about…

  • GDP revised down to -1.5%

    GDP revised down to -1.5%

    Equity index futures were higher before first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) revisions were released. The GDP revision was expected to come in at -1.3% from the earlier -1.4%, but actually ended up being worse at -1.5%. The revision also revealed higher-than-expected inflation growth at 8.1% instead of the forecasted 8%. Equity futures trimmed their…

  • Investors increasingly look to stocks that produce income

    Investors increasingly look to stocks that produce income

    Investors are rushing to companies promising regular payouts to shareholders, a sign of Wall Street’s hunger for cash in hand as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates and major stock indexes struggle. They are turning to companies such as AT&T Inc. and cigarette-maker Altria Group Inc. as the broader market endures one of its most volatile stretches of the past decade. Worries about…

  • U.S. households spending almost double on gasoline versus last year

    U.S. households spending almost double on gasoline versus last year

    U.S. households are now spending the equivalent of $5,000 a year on gasoline, up from $2,800 a year ago, according to Yardeni Research. In March, the annual rate of gasoline spending was at $3,800, Yardeni noted. During the week of May 16, the national retail price for gasoline reached a record $4.59 per gallon, the…

  • Leggett & Platt increases dividend 4.8%

    Leggett & Platt increases dividend 4.8%

    Leggett & Platt (LEG) announced its next dividend of $0.44 per share, a 4.8% increase over the company’s previous payout of $0.42. Leggett & Platt (LEG) has a current dividend yield of 4.63% and is rated as “Safe” by SimplySafeDividends. I hold LEG in my Low & Medium Yield Portfolios. In total LEG is 1.2% of my…